2 Week Western Australia Itinerary: The Ultimate 14 Day Trip
If you have two weeks in Western Australia, you can see a lot more of the state without turning your holiday into a race from one destination to another.
For this itinerary, I recommend heading south from Perth through Margaret River, Pemberton, Denmark and Albany before continuing to Esperance.
It’s a fantastic introduction to southern Western Australia, combining Perth and Rottnest Island with wineries, forests, small coastal towns, national parks and some of the most beautiful beaches in WA.
There is still a fair amount of driving — this is Western Australia, after all — but I’ve allowed multiple-night stays in the main destinations rather than moving accommodation every day.
If Ningaloo Reef and the Coral Coast are higher on your wish list, I’d choose a completely different two-week itinerary rather than trying to combine north and south in one trip.
2 Week WA Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Overnight | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Perth | Perth, Kings Park & the coast |
| Day 2 | Perth | Rottnest Island |
| Day 3 | Margaret River | Perth → Busselton → Margaret River |
| Day 4 | Margaret River | Margaret River wineries & attractions |
| Day 5 | Margaret River | Dunsborough & Yallingup |
| Day 6 | Pemberton | Margaret River → Pemberton |
| Day 7 | Denmark | Pemberton → Walpole → Denmark |
| Day 8 | Albany | Denmark → Albany |
| Day 9 | Albany | Albany & Torndirrup National Park |
| Day 10 | Esperance | Albany → Esperance |
| Day 11 | Esperance | Cape Le Grand National Park |
| Day 12 | Esperance | Esperance beaches & attractions |
| Day 13 | Hyden | Esperance → Wave Rock/Hyden |
| Day 14 | Perth | Hyden → Perth |
Best for: First-time visitors who want to see southern WA
Trip style: Beaches, food & wine, forests, wildlife, nature and road-trip scenery
Car needed: From Day 3
Pace: Moderate
Ideal time: 14 full days
Day 1 – Discover Perth
Start your two-week Western Australia itinerary in Perth.
If you’ve arrived after a long flight, don’t fill your first day with too many plans. Give yourself some time to settle in and get your bearings.
Start at Kings Park and Botanic Garden for views across the city and Swan River before exploring central Perth and Elizabeth Quay.
Later in the afternoon, head towards the coast.
For a first visit, Cottesloe Beach is an easy choice. If the weather cooperates, stay for sunset before heading back into Perth.
Day 1 highlights
Kings Park • Perth CBD • Elizabeth Quay • Cottesloe Beach
Stay: Perth
Read next: Things to Do in Perth →
Day 2 – Rottnest Island
Spend your second day exploring Rottnest Island.
I recommend taking an early ferry to give yourself a full day on the island.
You can hire a bike, use the island bus or combine both. Don’t make seeing a quokka your only objective — Rottnest’s beaches and bays are a huge part of what makes the island special.
Depending on how you explore, stops could include The Basin, Little Salmon Bay, Parker Point, Wadjemup Lighthouse and West End.
Return to Perth later in the afternoon.
Day 2 highlights
Quokkas • Beaches • Snorkelling • Cycling • Coastal scenery
Stay: Perth
Read next: Rottnest Island Guide →
Day 3 – Perth to Margaret River via Busselton
Pick up your hire car this morning and start your journey south.
Make Busselton your main stop rather than driving straight to Margaret River.
Walk along Busselton Jetty or take the train, and consider visiting the Underwater Observatory if it interests you.
Have lunch around Busselton before continuing to Margaret River.
Once you’ve checked into your accommodation, keep the rest of the day fairly relaxed.
Day 3 route
Perth → Busselton → Margaret River
Day 3 highlights
Busselton Jetty • Geographe Bay • Margaret River
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Things to do in Busselton →
My Tip 💡
If you want to visit the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory, book ahead. Sessions can sell out, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Day 4 – Explore Margaret River
Today is your chance to experience the food and wine for which Margaret River is famous.
You don’t need to spend the entire day visiting wineries. I prefer mixing a couple of wineries with some of the region’s other attractions.
Depending on your interests, combine wineries with local produce, a brewery, a cave or some time in Margaret River town.
If everyone in your group wants to enjoy the wine, joining an organised tour makes the day much easier.
Day 4 highlights
Wineries • Local produce • Breweries • Caves • Margaret River town
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Best Things to Do in Margaret River →
Day 5 – Dunsborough & Yallingup
Spend today exploring the northern part of the Margaret River Region.
Head towards Dunsborough and Yallingup, stopping at some of the beaches and coastal attractions along the way.
I’d include Canal Rocks, Yallingup Beach, Meelup Beach and Cape Naturaliste.
You could also stop at Sugarloaf Rock, particularly later in the day.
Don’t try to schedule every hour. This is one of the best areas of the trip for taking your time and stopping when somewhere looks appealing.
Day 5 highlights
Dunsborough • Yallingup • Canal Rocks • Meelup Beach • Cape Naturaliste
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Best Things to Do in Dunsbourough→ and Best Things to Do in Yallingup→
My Tip 💡
Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need around Dunsborough and Yallingup. It’s easy to lose half a day stopping at beaches and viewpoints along this stretch of coast.
Day 6 – Margaret River to Pemberton
Leave Margaret River and start heading south towards Pemberton.
You could travel via Augusta and visit Cape Leeuwin before continuing into the tall karri forests. However, I would spend more time in and around Pemberton.
The scenery changes considerably today, which is one of the things I enjoy about travelling through the South West.
Once you arrive in Pemberton, spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the forests and surrounding area.
Day 6 route
Margaret River → Augusta → Pemberton
Day 6 highlights
Cape Leeuwin • Karri forests • Pemberton
Stay: Pemberton
Read next: Best Things to Do in Pemberton→
Day 7 – Pemberton to Denmark via Walpole
Continue through the forests towards Walpole.
Make time for the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk if you haven’t visited before.
You’ll walk among the canopy of the giant tingle trees before continuing towards Denmark.
There’s no need to cram too much else into today. Enjoy the drive and arrive in Denmark with enough time for a relaxed evening.
Day 7 route
Pemberton → Walpole → Denmark
Day 7 highlights
Karri forests • Walpole • Valley of the Giants • Denmark
Stay: Denmark
Read next: Best Things to Do in Walpole→ and Best Things to Do in Denmark→
Day 8 – Denmark to Albany
You don’t have far to travel today, so spend the morning around Denmark.
Visit William Bay National Park for Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.
These are two of the best-known coastal attractions around Denmark and deserve more than a quick photo stop.
Continue to Albany later in the day and check into your accommodation.
Day 8 highlights
Greens Pool • Elephant Rocks • Denmark • Albany
Stay: Albany
Read next: Best Things to Do in Albany→
My Tip 💡
Walk around from Greens Pool to Elephant Rocks rather than treating them as separate stops. They’re close together and this is one part of the itinerary I wouldn’t rush.
Day 9 – Albany & Torndirrup National Park
Spend a full day exploring Albany.
Head out to Torndirrup National Park and visit The Gap and Natural Bridge.
The coastline here is dramatically different from the sheltered beaches you’ve seen elsewhere on the trip.
Back in Albany, explore the town and consider visiting the National Anzac Centre if you’re interested in history.
Depending on when you’re travelling, you may also be able to go whale watching.
Day 9 highlights
The Gap • Natural Bridge • Torndirrup National Park • National Anzac Centre • Albany
Stay: Albany
Day 10 – Albany to Esperance
Today is one of the longer driving days.
Leave Albany in the morning and travel east towards Esperance.
Don’t try to turn this into a huge sightseeing day. There is plenty waiting for you once you reach Esperance, and you have two full days there.
Take breaks along the journey and aim to reach Esperance with enough time to check in and perhaps take a first look at the coastline.
Day 10 route
Albany → Esperance
Stay: Esperance
My Tip 💡
Start reasonably early today. Albany to Esperance is a substantial drive, and I’d rather arrive with time to settle in than be driving unfamiliar roads late in the day.
Day 11 – Cape Le Grand National Park
Today is one of the highlights of the entire itinerary.
Spend the day exploring Cape Le Grand National Park.
The park is home to some extraordinary beaches, including Lucky Bay.
Allow plenty of time rather than simply driving between viewpoints.
Depending on what you enjoy, your day could include beaches, short walks, swimming and some of the park’s longer hikes.
Day 11 highlights
Lucky Bay • Cape Le Grand National Park • Beaches • Hiking • Wildlife
Stay: Esperance
Read next: Best Things to Do in Esperance →
My Tip 💡
Don’t plan Cape Le Grand as a quick half-day trip. The beaches are the reason you’ve driven this far, so give yourself a full day and enjoy them.
Day 12 – Explore Esperance
You have another full day in Esperance, so today can be more relaxed.
Drive the Great Ocean Drive, stopping at beaches and viewpoints along the way.
Spend time at whichever beaches appeal to you rather than trying to tick every stop off a list.
You can also explore Esperance itself or simply enjoy having a slower day after several days on the road.
Day 12 highlights
Great Ocean Drive • Twilight Beach • Coastal viewpoints • Esperance
Stay: Esperance
Day 13 – Esperance to Hyden
It’s time to start making your way back towards Perth.
Rather than driving all the way from Esperance to Perth in one day, break the journey at Hyden.
Once you arrive, visit Wave Rock and explore the surrounding attractions if you have enough time.
This also gives you a very different landscape from the beaches and forests you’ve experienced during the rest of the trip.
Day 13 route
Esperance → Hyden
Day 13 highlights
Outback scenery • Hyden • Wave Rock
Stay: Hyden
Day 14 – Hyden to Perth
Enjoy a relaxed start before beginning the final drive back to Perth.
The journey takes you through the Wheatbelt and gives you one last look at another very different part of Western Australia.
Once back in Perth, return your hire car and enjoy your final evening.
If you’re flying internationally, I’d stay overnight in Perth and fly the following day rather than planning a long drive and flight on the same day.
Day 14 route
Hyden → Perth
Stay: Perth if required.
My Tip 💡
If possible, don’t book a long-haul flight for the evening you return from Hyden. An extra night in Perth gives you some breathing room and makes the end of the trip much less stressful.
Where to Stay on This 2 Week WA Itinerary
This itinerary involves several accommodation changes, but the longer stays in Margaret River, Albany and Esperance stop it from feeling like you’re packing every morning.
Perth – 2 nights
Stay centrally for easy access to the city, Kings Park and transport to Rottnest.
Margaret River – 3 nights
Margaret River town is convenient for wineries and attractions. Dunsborough is another option if you would prefer to be closer to the northern beaches.
Where to Stay in Margaret River →
Pemberton – 1 night
Stay around Pemberton for easy access to the forests before continuing east.
Denmark – 1 night
One night breaks up the journey and gives you time to see Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks the following morning.
Albany – 2 nights
Two nights gives you a complete day for Albany and Torndirrup National Park.
Esperance – 3 nights
Three nights gives you two full days for Cape Le Grand and Esperance without having to rush.
Hyden – 1 night
Use Hyden to break up the return journey and visit Wave Rock.
How Much Driving Is Involved?
This is a proper Western Australian road trip, so there are some significant driving days.
The longest stretches are around Albany to Esperance and Esperance to Hyden, but they’re balanced by several days where you don’t need to travel very far at all.
That’s deliberate.
Trying to cover the same destinations in seven or ten days would make the trip considerably more rushed.
If you dislike long drives, I’d leave Esperance out and spend your additional days exploring the South West more slowly.
Do You Need a Car?
Yes, for most of this itinerary.
You don’t need one for your first couple of days in Perth and Rottnest, so I’d collect your hire car on Day 3.
From Margaret River onwards, having your own vehicle is essential for following this itinerary comfortably.
There are car hire booths at Perth Airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental.
To compare Australian car hire prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are highly rated.
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Best Time for This 2 Week WA Itinerary
Because this route stays in southern Western Australia, the seasons matter.
Spring is a particularly good time for wildflowers and generally pleasant travelling conditions.
Summer works well if beaches are your priority, although some inland areas can become very hot.
Autumn can also be a lovely time for the South West.
Winter brings cooler temperatures and more rain, particularly around the South West and Albany.
Read: Best Time to Visit Western Australia →
What If You Want to Visit Ningaloo Instead?
Don’t try to add Exmouth and Ningaloo to this itinerary.
They’re in the opposite direction from Margaret River, Albany and Esperance, and combining both would mean spending a huge amount of your holiday driving.
Instead, choose a Coral Coast itinerary.
A two-week route north from Perth could include:
Perth → Kalbarri → Shark Bay → Coral Bay → Exmouth → Perth
14 Day Coral Coast & Ningaloo Itinerary →
What If You Only Have 10 Days?
Leave Esperance and Hyden for another trip and finish your journey in Albany before returning to Perth.
10 Day Western Australia Itinerary →
What If You Only Have One Week?
Concentrate on Perth, Rottnest Island and the Margaret River Region.
7 Day Western Australia Itinerary →
Western Australia Itineraries
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Prefer a Road Trip?
This itinerary focuses on how to spend 14 days exploring southern Western Australia. For detailed driving routes, distances and alternative stops, head to my Western Australia road trip guides.
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